33-year-old club sport not just for the 'birds'

The player's movement is fierce and passionate. A rapid amount of scoring ensues. A ball zings past with the intent to score. This is a sport similar to many others, yet most many people know little about it.\nThe IU Badminton Club started in 1972 under the leadership of faculty member Steve Race. The club has had some slow periods in the past, but under the leadership of club president doctoral student Feng-Ru Sheu, vice president graduate student Qin "Arthur" Zhu and faculty adviser Jim Heersma, the club has improved dramatically from its past and looks forward to its future. \nThe rules for badminton are simple. Similar to tennis, points are scored when a team successfully hits a ball, properly known as a shuttlecock or a bird, into the opponent's court area. Unlike a bouncy tennis ball, a bird has feathers that make it more aerodynamic. The team starting out with the bird is the only one allowed to score on a single possession. \nThose who play badminton are taught not only to have a good time, but to improve their coordination in other sports.\n"I learned that Badminton helps me play well in all other sports. It's funny that all of the important skills are transferred," said Zhu, a graduate student in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. \nCompared to previous years, the club has increased both in membership and popularity. Since last year, membership doubled from 35 active members to 70 and has reserved more courts at the Student Recreational Sports Complex and at HPER than ever before. \nWith members from 18 different countries on five continents, communication with club members is diverse and educational. With new social events available at the club this year, ranging from dinners to apple-picking trips, members learn new skills and customs from each other. \n"We've picked up different languages and speak different languages to each other on and off the court. It has been a good experience," said Meng Ai, a member of the club and clinical social worker. \nThe club prides itself on its national tournament every year, the IU Badminton Open, which is held every October at the SRSC. The planning of the open takes a lot time and energy. As president, Sheu claims that in addition to the five hours a week of practice, she also spends a lot of time e-mailing members about current club news and working on the club Web site.\n"Time for the club has expanded a lot this year. There was a lot of programming and organization needed this year for the open. (The open) brought positive growth," said Sheu, a graduate student of instructional technology at the School of Education.\nHeersma, who came to IU in 1968 and was there at the club's founding, has been around the sport for a while. He feels that this year that the organization is going to places that before it has not seen. \n"It has been much more cohesive," he said. "The group, partly because of Feng-Ru, is organizing more, having more members participate as officers, taking responsibility, and has gotten everyone more involved."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Drew Smith at asmithii@indiana.edu.